Holiday Cranberry Mojito

5 from 6 votes

These tart and sweet cranberry mojitos are a festive twist on a classic cocktail, and are perfect for all your winter holiday gatherings!

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Keyword: holiday drink recipe

Servings: servings

Calories: 372kcal

10-20 fresh mint leaves
4 tsp granulated sugar
4 tsp fresh lime juice
4 oz cranberry syrup (about 1/2 cup)
4 oz white or silver rum (about 1/2 cup)
ice cubes
4 oz club soda (about 1/2 cup) seltzer or sparkling mineral water can also be used

To a small saucepan, add cranberries, sugar, and water and heat over MED heat. Stir to combine and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved and cranberries are bursting (making the syrup red in color). Use a spoon or rubber spatula to gently press on the berries a bit to release even more flavor.
Set aside, off the heat, to cool to room temperature. If you'd like to make this ahead of time, once it cools, add it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week.

Divide the mint leaves evenly among two cocktail glasses. Add 2 tsp of sugar to each glass and use a muddler (or wooden spoon handle, etc) to smash the mint and sugar together about 5 times per glass.

Add 2 tsp of lime juice to each glass, then pour about 4 oz (about 1/4 cup) of the cooled cranberry syrup into each glass.
At this point you can add a few of the burst/smashed cranberries from the syrup if you'd like.
Pour 2 oz of white or silver rum (about 1/4 cup), fill the glasses with ice cubes, then top off with about 2 oz (1/4 cup) of club soda.

If you'd like to garnish your drinks, feel free to add some additional cranberries, a lime slice/wedge, and a sprig of mint to each glass.
I prefer to serve these with a straw or long cocktail pick so you can stir the flavors together if you'd like.

Recipe makes 2 (6-7 oz plus ice) cocktails.
Any leftover cranberry syrup can be refrigerated for a week, or frozen for longer storage.

For a party or large gathering, I would recommend quadrupling the recipe (multiply all ingredients by 4), which would require an 55 oz or larger pitcher.
However, you can make a large batch with any multiple of the recipe, you just want to make sure you have a large enough pitcher to hold everything.
Make the larger amount of cranberry syrup, then cool completely.
Pour syrup into a pitcher, add larger amount of lime juice, and larger amount of white rum. Stir together, then cover and chill for several hours, or up to 1-2 days.
When ready to serve, stir really well, then add mint leaves and sugar to each glass and muddle, then add ice. Pour the contents of the pitcher over ice into glasses. Top off glasses with the club soda, add garnishes and serve!